HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

 

 

The movers arrived December 11th – in the rain!! – and we were on our way!  After a stop in Gainesville to see my Dad we arrived in Medina 2 days later.  Since I had purchased the house without Jack seeing it he was very excited to visit his new home.  As we drove up at dusk there were Christmas wreaths on both the front and back doors, big red bows on our porch lights and white twinkling lights on our trees!  I got tears in my eyes.  How special was that for our friends to welcome us to our new home with Christmas decorations!!!!  We spent the next couple of days preparing for Tyrone and his crew to deliver our household goods and sure enough, he arrived on schedule – and in the rain!! – again!  But everything arrived safely and in good shape.  Boxes were unpacked, “stuff” put away (not necessarily where it would eventually end up) and we celebrated the Holidays in our new home.  Jack’s Mom is settled nicely in her new assisted living and Dakota Kate has all kinds of new energy in this climate.  Like she needed more energy!  We are happy to be here and and are enjoying our new life.

Nearly every day deer greet us in the back yard!  The bird watching is spectacular – I even have Jack peering out the window with the binoculars! 

 

It wasn’t long before the first snow.  So pretty.  And how quiet the snow falls!

 

 

 

The Connelly family tradition is escargot and cheese fondue on Christmas Eve.  We shared it by the fire this year with Mina, Jack’s Mom.

 

Oh, and Dakota Kate, too!!

 

 

Twinkle, twinkle….

The shovel didn’t last long.  Jack soon found the snow blower store!!

Over a 3 day period it snowed steadily with a foot of accumulation.  I like how the bushes and trees wear little snow hats!

Besides bird feeders and grain blocks (for the deer) Santa brought a squirrel chair!!  Wish I could catch him in it!!

Play, puppy play!

 

Rest puppy, rest!  She loves my fake mink throw!!

 

Good bye manatee plate, hello Ohio plate!

 

 

 

And, YES, the sun shines here!!

 

We do love it.  Having the seasons again is refreshing and we look forward to each one for the first time in our new home. 

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY!!

 

 

SOLD!!!!

 

 

 

NEW ADDRESS:

 

3539 HUNTING RUN ROAD

MEDINA, OHIO 44256

 

 

WILD BLUE YONDER

 

Last Sunday Jack, Kristen, Holly, Ross, Dawn and I went to Homestead Air Reserve Station for the first air show to be held there since Hurricane Andrew devastated the base in 1992.  It was a 3-day event – Family Day on Friday – then Saturday and Sunday open to the public.  Jack was on jury duty in Marathon so he couldn’t go on Family Day but I drove up, met old Air Force friends for lunch and saw the Thunderbirds do their practice show.  Saturday we heard there were 80,000 people there!!  Never heard about Sunday's attendance but it was packed.  The day started out gloomy but by mid-day the sun was shining and  a breeze kept us cool. Even after all these years of going to air shows and watching the fighters perform it still gives me goose bumps!  This was the first air show we had been to where there were legacy flights.  To represent the Navy the F-18 Hornet flew by in formation with a Corsair and to represent the Air Force an F-15 Eagle flew in formation with a P-51 Mustang.  VERY COOL! 

 

F-16 Falcon from Jack’s old squadron – the Mako’s

 

Ross  and Capt. Jack

Holly and Dawn

 

Jack and Kristen

 

T’6’s Texan’s WW II trainer

  

 

 

 

 

F-18 Hornet and a Corsair

 

F-15 Eagle and P51-Mustang

 

Goose bump time!!  Thunderbirds!

 

NEW PIANO BAR IN ISLAMORADA

Our friend, Skip Bradeen, charter boat Captain extrordinaire (on the Blue Chip 2) and his wife, Lisa, are opening a piano bar in Islamorada. Last night was the grand opening - with great music, ballroom dancing demonstrations, drinks, appetizers, dinner. Yum! All at our specially reserved booth! Thanks, Lisa! Good luck!

CHEF JOSEPH'S OCTOBER COOKING CLASS

Alina and I attended a cooking class the other night at one of our local restuarants. October's theme was Spanish. The menu was Spanish Floridian Avocado Watermelon Gazpacho (sounds weird - was yummy! And I don't like gazpacho!), white corn tostados as an appetizer, paella for our entree and apple guava shortcake for dessert (Alina and I both wanted seconds on this!). We ran into old friends, made new friends and enjoyed Chef Joseph's antics. He was charming, funny and very entertaining as he danced around his kitchen. It is good to love what you do!

FINN CHARLES

Our grandson, Finn (and his Mom and Dad) came to visit Capt. Jack and Mommy Susan for a week.  Below see some of the fun!!

First fish!

 

 

Lunch after a hard day of fishing!

Playing on the beach

 

 

 

Driving the boat to sunset

 

 

Swimming in Florida Bay

Theater of the Sea

 

 

Beautiful back country day

 

Fun at Founder's Park

 

At the helm of Freyja

A kayak in the canal

Four generations of Connelly's!!!